Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 26, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
Dallas needs to
weigh options
Monday, City Manager Ron Foggin discussed with the
Public Safety Committee the various options to improve
the facilities for Dallas Fire & EMS and for the Dallas Police
Department.
One option renovates an existing building — the old De-
partment of Human Services building at the corner of Oak
and Church streets. Another uses city-owned property and
builds new police facilities from the ground up.
The cost difference between the two options — as pre-
sented by the city’s consultant, Makenzie — is less than $1
million.
Now is a good chance to look around Dallas to see the
differences in costs and results of our neighbors who have
recently built police stations.
Independence’s station — while larger than needed
today — planned for the future of the department and is
large enough to accommodate growth of the city. It’s lay-
out and design helped Independence’s department earn
accreditation from the Oregon Accreditation Alliance. It
was built from scratch when the Independence Civic Cen-
ter and city hall was built, designed specifically for use by a
police department.
Monmouth’s station — while miles better than what
they had — was a renovated building. It is no longer in the
center of town, and has to compete with traffic on High-
way 99W in and out of the station. It does not have all the
amenities that it should have for a police department such
as covered parking and adequate storage. Those things
had to be cut because construction during the renovations
unveiled bigger issues than first anticipated, raising costs
to nearly match what the estimates were to build it from
scratch.
Police departments that are designed to be police de-
partments from the start are much better at serving the
needs of both officers and the public. It would be worth
the investment to build something new rather than reno-
vate something standing.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEdnESdAY, JulY 26
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
ThurSdAY, JulY 27
• Monmouth-Independence networks Board of direc-
tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S.
Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700.
TuESdAY, AuG. 1
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 War-
ren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
WEdnESdAY, AuG. 2
• Monmouth historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners —9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Kate Brown (dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
—
STATE LEGISLATORS
Sen. Arnie roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Destruction of
Obamacare not
imminent
Even if you are a slavish
Trump fan you should be
able to understand that the
destruction of Obamacare
isn’t going to happen soon.
Primarily because many
Republicans think the re-
placement is not cruel
enough.
Hence, in an effort to
craft some form of legisla-
tion that might pass, in
spite of its extreme right
wing origin, the Republi-
cans in Congress are mov-
ing to tax reform.
If you understood the
GOP health care “reform”
effort, you would see that it
was actually a massive tax
cut for the extra wealthy in
America.
Well, if they do that to
health care, imagine what
their tax reform will look
like.
It will be a huge accelera-
tion of the transfer of all
wealth in America from the
average citizen to the super
wealthy.
If we consider prior GOP
legislative efforts as dump-
ster fires, then tax reform
will be a fire at the whole
landfill.
Over 90 percent of aver-
age Americans will pay a
heavy price to shift wealth
over to the super rich.
That includes progres-
sives, conservatives, the
poor, Trump followers,
small business owners and
the retired.
Unless you just fell off the
turnip truck, you should be
able to see by now that no
one in the GOP, not even
the ineffective President,
gives one single whit for av-
erage Americans.
If you are in that group
and do not wish to see
yourself further disadvan-
taged financially then you
better get ready to do some
good.
Turn off the TV and figure
out who is your representa-
tion in Congress and start
holding them accountable
for the damage they are
doing to our lives.
Otherwise, you are the
big loser here.
PLC closing
Monmouth store
zation based in Monmouth
that has served people living
with an intellectual or de-
velopmental disability for
the last 30 years across Ore-
gon, is sad to announce the
closure of its consignment
store in downtown Mon-
mouth.
PCL’s DownTown Trends
and Treasures, 142 Pacific
Ave. N., Monmouth, is clos-
ing its doors for good on
July 29.
Due to economic pres-
sures caused by state fund-
ing and rule changes, PCL is
no longer able to operate
the store in a manner that
matches its mission focus.
DownTown Trends and
Treasures has served the
Polk County community for
the last 16 years, providing
real-time job training for
people, and quality resale
clothing and accessories for
its consignors and shoppers.
Our consignors were no-
tified by mail on July 1 of
this impending change, but
we wanted to make sure the
public at large had an op-
portunity to visit the store
one last time before the cur-
tain comes down.
The property owner has
also sold the building, and
we will be selling all of the
business’s remaining assets
throughout the month of
August.
If you are interested, or
know someone who may
be, please contact: Gary
Zenzen, Executive Manager,
PCL, 503-339-4947, gzen-
zen@pclpartnership.org.
It has been a tremendous
pleasure and honor being
part our local business com-
munity.
Best wishes to all.
Partnerships in Commu-
nity Inc., a nonprofit organi-
Gary Zenzen
Monmouth
Fred Brown
Dallas
Women’s Club
thanks Burkhalters
Pedee Women’s Club
wishes to thank Art and
Pam Burkhalter, of Mon-
mouth, for all the hours
they donated to create our
quilt raffle booth at Western
Days.
Without them, we would-
n’t have been able to have
the booth.
Pedee Women’s Club is a
nonprofit that sends gift
boxes to deployed military
each month.
Postage alone is over
$100 each month.
Anyone wishing to do-
nate or purchase raffle tick-
ets may contact LaVerne
Bennett at 12950 Kings Val-
ley Highway, Monmouth
OR 97361, or phone 503-
835-0751.
Thank you Art and Pam
Burkhalter.
Judy Dixon
Dallas
Sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters
Sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist
rep. david Gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg
rep. Paul Evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans
rep. Mike nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman
—
U.S. CONGRESS
Sen. ron Wyden (dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem office: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
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Election-related letters of all
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Writers are limited to one elec-
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Each writer is restricted to
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Letters, like all editorial mate-
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Letters must include the au-
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The deadline for letters to the
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—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 161 High St. SE,
Suite 250, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
rep. Kurt Schrader (dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
—
POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
—
CITIES
dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 142, No. 30
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards
from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Periodicals postage paid at
Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $35
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40
Outside of Oregon — One Year $45
nEWSrOOM
Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
Stephanie Blair.............General Assignment Reporter........................................sblair@polkio.com
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Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com
Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com
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Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com
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Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement
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Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395
which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
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